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Plus: Lisa solves your fashion dilemmas below
Apparently it was Anna Wintour who, if she didn’t actually coin the term ‘matchy-matchy’, imbued it with unmistakable disdain. This would have been some time in the late 20th century, when the habit of matching bag with shoes, fingernail polish with toenail polish, was considered irredeemably passé, a relic of a bygone, hidebound age – and the provinces.
Well, it was the era of grunge.
Three decades later, something interesting is going on. This past summer, matchy-matchy fingers and toes became positively chic. Women have also been matching their nails with their lips. Nail polish brand Kure Bazaar, for example, sells lipsticks to match its varnishes – I can vouch for the moisturising silkiness of its reds.
Rouge Dior Forever lipstick in 999 Forever Dior, £37 and nail varnish in 999 Rouge, £27, both Dior
For Molly Goddard’s catwalk show in September, models wore black eye shadow along with Kure Bazaar’s Khôl black nails. The designer’s pink ruffled dress, worn by Jodie Comer in the first series of Killing Eve, became a potent image in 2018. Who knows if her nails will do the same? I fully expect those edgy fashion boys I keep seeing on the Tube in Cabaret-style eye make-up to lead the way.
Cotton bandana, £35, Toast; Nail polish in Bangkok, Mavala
As for the rest of us, matching nails to lips is a sleek touch that, without too much effort, projects pulled-together glamour. Something to bear in mind when planning party looks this winter and contemplating sandals, perhaps.
As for matchy-matchy shoes and bags, it’s early days and I’m not sure the tyranny (and expense) of matching the two to each other, or the rest of your outfit, is to be encouraged. What I do know is that scarves that have lingered unworn in boxes on top of my wardrobe for years (or been framed – they make excellent wall art) have been conscripted into handbag action recently.
Pleated wool blend dress, £115, Cos; Leather bag, £550, Mulberry x Paul Smith; Suede shoes, £120, Boden
If you want to dip your toe in, charity shops and the sale at Liberty are useful sources. They don’t have to be silk – sometimes cotton bandanas and oversized handkerchieves can do the job.
Once you master the art of tying them round one strap of a top-handled bag, there’ll be no stopping you. You can match to your heart’s content without going overboard. It’s also an excellent way to give a corporate bag some individuality and bring some colour to winter, without committing to an entire outfit.
Labradorite and pearl earrings, £140, Carousel Jewels; Gold vermeil and gemstone ring, £95, Gem Bazaar
The bag I’m holding in the above photo is from Kaai, a Belgian label set up by two women who put functionality at the forefront. Its bags are designed to house your tech of choice, from mobile phones to laptops. This is the Mini Pyramid and I found the 10.2in iPad slotted in with just enough room for keys and a slim make-up bag. Not cheap but well built and very smart.
Lisa wears (top image): Jacquard knit dress, £325, Jigsaw; patent-leather shoes, £380, Dear Frances; gold-vermeil and sterling-silver earrings, £98, Mejuri; leather bag, £425, Kaai; Silk scarf (on handle), £62, Lescarf; satin lipstick, £27, and nail polish, £13, both in Lipstick, Kure Bazaar. Hair and Make-Up by Oonagh Connor at Joy Goodman, using Hourglass and Beauty Pie.
Lisa solves your style dilemmas
Each week, Telegraph Head of Fashion Lisa Armstrong responds to your queries, lending her expertise to help you shop smart. Have a question for her? Submit it below.
Dear Lisa,
I have started to wear more dresses and skirts but at only 5ft 3ins, I find it increasingly difficult to find the right dresses and skirts that don’t drown me! Can you point me in the right direction?
– Sarah
Hi Sarah,
I’ve written a feature that will be published in a few weeks about this – it includes where to shop for petite sizes. Meanwhile, all of the following offer some of their ranges in smaller sizes: Boden, M&S, Hobbs, Lauren and Polo by Ralph Lauren (not as pricey as you might think), Mint Velvet and Sea Salt. I’ll keep my antennae raised for more as they crop up. In the meantime, hope you find something there.
– Lisa